Omnipotence

Al-Tawḥīd|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 9

Al-Tawḥīd

Book 2, Chapter 9

Omnipotence

Hadith #8

8 - حدثنا محمد بن علي ماجيلويه رحمه الله، عن محمد بن أبي القاسم، عن محمد ابن علي الصيرفي، عن علي بن حماد، عن المفضل بن عمر الجعفي، عن أبي - عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: إن الله تبارك وتعالى لا تقدر قدرته، ولا يقدر العباد على صفته ولا يبلغون كنه علمه ولا مبلغ عظمته، وليس شئ غيره، هو نور ليس فيه ظلمة وصدق ليس فيه كذب، وعدل ليس فيه جور، وحق ليس فيه باطل، كذلك لم يزل ولا يزال أبد الآبدين، وكذلك كان إذ لم يكن أرض ولا سماء ولا ليل ولا نهار ولا شمس ولا قمر ولا نجوم ولا سحاب ولا مطر ولا رياح، ثم إن الله تبارك وتعالى أحب أن يخلق خلقا يعظمون عظمته ويكبرون كبرياءه ويجلون جلاله. فقال: كونا ظلين، فكانا كما قال الله تبارك وتعالى . قال مصنف هذا الكتاب: معنى قوله: هو نور، أي هو منير وهاد ومعنى قوله: كونا ظلين، الروح المقدس والملك المقرب، والمراد به أن الله كان ولا شئ معه، فأراد أن يخلق أنبيائه وحججه وشهداءه، فخلق قبلهم الروح المقدس وهو الذي يؤيد الله عز وجل به أنبياءه وحججه وشهداءه صلوات الله عليهم، وهو الذي يحرسهم به من كيد الشيطان ووسواسه ويسددهم ويوفقهم ويمدهم بالخواطر الصادقة ثم خلق الروح الأمين الذي نزل على أنبيائه بالوحي منه عز وجل، وقال لهما: كونا ظلين ظليلين لأنبيائي ورسلي وحججي وشهدائي، فكانا كما قال الله عز وجل ظلين ظليلين لأنبيائه ورسلي وحججه وشهدائه، يعينهم بهما وينصرهم على أيديهم و يحرسهم بهما، وعلى هذا المعنى قيل للسلطان العادل: إنه ظل الله في أرضه لعباده، يأوي إليه المظلوم، ويأمن به الخائف الوجل، ويأمن به السبل، وينتصف به الضعيف من القوي، وهذا هو سلطان الله وحجته التي لا تخلو الأرض منه إلى أن تقوم الساعة.

8. Muhammad ibn `Ali Majilwayh said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abu al-Qasim, on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Sayrafi, on the authority of `Ali ibn Hammad, on the authority of alMufaddal ibn `Umar al-Ju`fi that Verily, the Omnipotence of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, cannot be predetermined, and worshippers have no power over His Attributes, not can they reach the core of His Knowledge or the extent of His Majesty. There is nothing that exists besides Him. He is Light without darkness, Truth without falsehood, Justice without oppression, and Reality without Non-reality. He has never vanished nor ever will. He was there when there was no Earth or sky. He was there when there was no night or day. He was there when there was no sun or moon. He was there when there were no stars, clouds, rain or wind. Then Allah, the Blessed, the Exalted, wished to make a creation that would revere His Majesty, glorify His Magnificence, and honor His Sublimity. Thus, He commanded: “Be you both protectors;” therefore, they were as Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has said. The Compiler of this Book says: The meaning of the statement: He is Light, is that He is the One who Illuminates and He is the Guide. The meaning of His Word: “Be you two protected” is the Holy Spirit [al-Ruh al-Muqaddas] and the Angel Drawn Near. What is intended by this is that Allah was there when there was nothing with Him, so He intended to create His Messengers, His Proofs, and His Witnesses. Thus, He created before them the Holy Spirit, through which Allah, the Mighty and High, supports His Messengers, Proofs and Witnesses, may the blessings of Allah be upon them all. It is through the Holy Spirit that Allah guards them from the deception and the whispers of Satan. Allah directs them, succeeds them and assists them through true thoughts. Then He created the Trustworthy Spirit [al-Ruh al-Amin] through whom the Mighty and High sent revelation to the Messengers, and said to both of them: `Be you both protector’ for My Prophets, Messengers, Proofs, and Witnesses. He helps them through the two, assists them with their hands, and guards them through the two. Based on this concept, it is said the Just Ruler is the Protector appointed by Allah to guard His Earth and His Servants. The oppressed seek shelter from him, the fearful and wayfarers feel safe by him, and through him the weak demand justice from the strong. This is Allah’s Ruler and His Proof, which the Earth is not fee from until the Day of Judgment.